Books of 2023

It has now been close to 15 years that I would consider myself an avid reader. Reading is one of the things I wish I had learned to do earlier in life. As I have found that books are the greatest knowledge hack and exponential return of time and money.

I’ve written this in the past but you are gaining 10-15 years worth of someone’s experience in 3-4 hours of time. It’s like a ready made mentor whenever and wherever you need.

As a parent the advice I received that has struck home with me the most has been don’t buy your kids the things you wish you had but teach them the things you wish you learned. It’s that thought process that has led me to getting my kids in the habit of consistency and reading everyday. With my oldest now getting close to reading everyday for a year. It’s one of those little things that I’m stoked to see his growth commitment.

But I digress with that said here is list of the 2023 books that have been broken down into categories and I summarize the whole list and at the end I give my top 3 standouts.

Personal Development:

Winning the War in Your Mind by Craig Groeschel: A guide to overcoming negative thoughts and renewing one’s mind for a positive life change.

10x is Easier Than 2x by Ben Hardy & Dan Sullivan: An exploration of how making significant progress can be easier than small incremental steps.

Becoming a King by Morgan Snyder: Delving into the journey of personal growth and the path to authentic manhood.

The Way of the Warrior by Erwin McManus: A book about discovering inner peace through the art of war and personal battles.

Chop Wood Carry Water by Joshua Medcalf: A story emphasizing the value of loving the process to achieve success.

The Way of the Superior Man by David Deida: Insights on modern masculinity and the challenges faced by men in pursuit of spiritual and intimate growth.

Business and Leadership:

The Creative Act: The Way of Being by Rick Rubin: Rubin’s insights into harnessing creativity and establishing a fulfilling creative process.

YouTube Formula by Derral Eves: Strategies for success on YouTube, combining analytics with creative content creation.

Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara: A business philosophy that prioritizes extraordinary service and creating memorable experiences.

The Goal by Eliyahu Goldratt: A seminal business novel introducing the Theory of Constraints for managing systems and achieving goals.

Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t by Steven Pressfield: A no-nonsense approach to professional writing and storytelling.

Canoeing the Mountains by Tod Bolsinger: Leadership advice for uncharted territory, inspired by the explorations of Lewis and Clark.

Predictable Success by Les McKeown: The life cycle of businesses and how to achieve and sustain success.

Flip the Script by Oren Klaff: Techniques in persuasion that challenge traditional sales methods.

The 6 Types of Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni: A framework for understanding your unique talents and working effectively in teams.

Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell: Martell’s approach to reclaiming time by optimizing productivity and entrepreneurship.

Automatic Customer by John Warrillow: Creating subscription models that generate recurring revenue.

Level Up by Eric Siu: Tactics for businesses to scale and grow in a competitive environment.

Investment and Finance:

How to Invest by David Rubenstein: Insights from a financier on strategies for successful investing. Lots of great interviews. A bit heavy handed on ESG investing but the underlying investment strategies were good.

Catching Knives by Jake Harris: A guide to investing in real estate during downturns. My audio book came out so I reviewed that. I know I know I didn’t do the audio but as my operations manager reminded me done is better than perfect.

Fanatical Prospecting by Jeb Blount: Sales strategies focusing on the importance of a consistent and rigorous prospecting routine.

Science Fiction and Fantasy:

Heretics of Dune, God Emperor of Dune, Children of Dune by Frank Herbert: A science fiction saga exploring power, religion, and human nature in a complex desert world.

A Wise Man’s Fear and The Name of The Wind by Patrick Rothfuss: The epic fantasy journey of Kvothe, a gifted young man becoming a legendary figure. The writing in this book is so so good. Feels like watching Micheal Jordan in his prime play while you’re playing at the local rec.

Biography and Others:

The Fish Who Ate a Whale by Rich Cohen: The remarkable story of Samuel Zemurray’s rise from a street peddler to a mighty banana king.

More Than Words by John Howard: Strategies for deepening relationships beyond verbal communication, based on scientific research in interpersonal neurobiology and attachment theory.

Snow Leopard: Why Legendary Writers Create A Category Of One: Christoper Lochhead How writers and thought leaders can establish themselves uniquely through Category Design.

Summary of the Year’s Theme:

The overarching theme for the reading year is a blend of personal development, particularly mental strength and efficiency, coupled with a strong emphasis on business growth, entrepreneurship, and leadership. The inclusion of epic fantasy literature like the Dune series and Patrick Rothfuss’ books adds a layer of complexity and creativity, suggesting a balance between practical self-improvement/business strategies and the expansive, imaginative worlds of science fiction and fantasy. This mix indicates a year focused on growth, resilience, and imaginative exploration.

I have to say that I don’t have any reading plan that I follow but I let what I’m experiencing at the time and recommendations take me on a journey. I have also found there are times I need to reread certain books. For 2023 that are different for me because In the past I have been all business or self improvement books and I lacked some of the unbridled expansion that fiction could add. It allowed some time for my mind to disconnect explore creative worlds and revel at great storytelling and writing.

To summarize I picked 3 stand out books for the year and they are:

The Name of the Wind - Patrick Rothfuss:

This novel stands out for its masterful storytelling and deep character development. Rothfuss introduces us to Kvothe, a legendary figure with a mysterious past. The book shines with its unique magic system, a world rich with lore, and a protagonist whose tale of adventure, love, and loss is told with poignant introspection. Its lyrical prose and intricate narrative make it a modern classic in the fantasy genre.

The Fish Who Ate a Whale - Rich Cohen:

Cohen's biography of Samuel Zemurray, a poor immigrant who came to control the United Fruit Company, is as much a business saga as it is a human drama. The book's vivid storytelling brings to life Zemurray's ruthless business acumen and complex morality. It’s a standout for its exploration of the American Dream and the often-untold impact of corporate imperialism.

Buy Back Your Time - Dan Martell:

Martell's book is a practical guide to productivity and time management for entrepreneurs. It distinguishes itself with actionable advice on how to delegate, prioritize, and automate tasks to free up time for what's truly important. It's a testament to working smarter, not harder, and it’s particularly resonant for those looking to optimize their professional life without sacrificing their personal life.

To an epic 2024

Jake